Motor vehicle clutch control



Oct. 1, 1940. c. A. BREWER ,4

MOTOR VEHiCLE CLUTCH CONTROL Original Fil'fid Oct. 24,1928 3 s t sh' t 1 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 1, 1940. c. A. BREWER MOTOR VEHICLE CLUTCH CONTROL Original Filed Oct. 24,1928

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 1, 1949, c. A. BREWER MOTOR VEHICLE CLUTCH CONTROL Original Filed Oct. 24,1928

3 Sheets-Sheet 35 INVENTOR. W

e v ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1,-1940- I Q I f UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE CLUTCH CONTROL Charles A. Brewer, Noroton Heights, Conm, as-

signor oi one-half to Philip J. Kury, Arverne,

Original application October 24, 1928, Serial No. 314,627. Divided and this application April 19, 1935, Serial No. 17,323

8 Claims. (Cl. 192-91) Thisinvention relates to control mechanism for vided between the motor and the transmission, motor vehicles and has for an object to provide and the brake mechanism is shown diagraman improved control mechanism which will famatically at I1 and I8 operated by foot pedal cilitate operation of the vehicle and provide power l9 and a power device 20, a similar power demeans for operating the various control means, vice 2| being connected to the clutch for releas- 5' and which will provide improved control means ing the same. Power units 20 and 2| may be which will place the entire control in one hand substantially like that shown in Fig. '7 and hereof the operator. inafter described in detail. It is to be expressly It is also an object of the invention to provide understood, however, that I do not limit my in- 10 a control mechanism which will give more comvention to the particular type of motor construc- 1o plete, uniform and better control and thus tend tion shown in Fig. 7, but may employ other suittoward safer operation of the vehicle. able types of power units.

This application is a division of my copending The power units 20 and 2| illustrated are opapplication for Motor vehicle control, Serial No. erated by suction from any suitable source, such 314,627, filed October 24, 1928, and renewed Noas the intake manifold of the engine. The spe- 15 vember 28, 1933, which has become Patent No. cific construction of units and 2| is illustrated 2,045,516, issued June 23, 1936. in Fig. 7. The unit as shown comprises an outer With the foregoing and other objects in view, casing made in two sections, the body section the invention consists in certain novel features 22 and the cap or cover section 23 connected to- 20 of construction, combinations and arrangements gether by suitable screws. Secured to the cover an of parts, as will be more fully disclosed in consection at one end is a flexible diaphragm 24,

- nection with the accompanying drawings. -In the particular diaphragm shown being a metal these drawings: Y bellows construction which is secured to the cov- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a er by means of a packing disc 25. The other '25 chassis of an automobile showing my improved end of the bellows is closed by a movable head 25 control applied thereto for controlling the op- 26 which has an extension or rod 21 passing eration of the clutch and brake mechanism; through the end wall of body member 22, said Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation and partial rod being surrounded by a suitable packing 28 section of the upper end of the gear shift lever; to prevent the entrance of dirt and moisture.

to Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the upper end Also secured to the section 23 and forming a part a r of the lever taken at right angles to the plane of the casing is an extension 29 projecting into of the section of Fig. 2, the section being subthe space 30 within the diaphragm to help fill stantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 4; this space and reduce the amount of air con- Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; tained therein to be withdrawn by the suction Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation and partial when the device is operated and thus reduce the 35 vertical section showing the gearshift lever and lag in its operation and give quicker functioning the power device for releasing the clutch; of the unit. It also provides convenient means Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section of a lower for mounting the control valve mechanism to be portion of the gearshift lever and the mounthereinafter described.

0 ing therefor; Extension 29 as shown is double walled to pro- Fig. 7 is a detail section of a preferred form vide a passage 3|, and it also forms a chamber of power unit for carrying out the invention; 32 communicating with space 30 through one or Fig. 8'is a detail side elevation, with parts more cond its 33. The inner wall 34 of the exbroken away, showing a second embodiment of tension has an openin 35 ect chambe the invention; 32 with passage 3|, said opening being controlled 5 Fig. 9 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale by a movable valve 36. Cap 23 has a passage through the power unit of Fig. 8; and 31 leading'to chamber 32' which is controlled by Fig. 10 is an elevation, partly in section and a valve 38, and this passage 31 is connected by with parts broken away, as viewed along line a suitable flexible conduit 39 with any suitable lB-IO of Fig. 8. source of suction, such as intake manifold 40 50 In the illustrated embodiment, a frame of a of the motor. The efiective area of passage 31 motor vehicle is indicated at l2 with the motor may be adjusted and set by a valve H9 which at l3 and the selective gear transmission at It may be secured in adjusted position by a lock controlled by the gearshift lever I5 .in the usual nut I20.

l5 manner. Any suitable type of clutch I6 is pro- The two valves 38 and 38 are mounted on a 53 rod 4| so that they move together. This rod and its head 42 form the armature of solenoid 48 which surrounds the rod and is mounted in a suitable casing 44. One end of this solenoid is grounded through the casing at 45 and the other end leads through an insulated contact 48 to an insulated conductor 41. The passage 3| is connected through a suitable conduit 48 with the atmosphere, and a branch 48 communicates with the space 58 outside of the diaphragm 24. The eflective area of these two branches may be controlled by adjustable valves |2l and I22 respectively, which valves, after adjusting, may be secured in adjusted position by lock nuts- I23. It will be noted that chambers 38 and 58 constitute the right-hand and left-hand ends respectively of casing 22, 23 as the latter is divided by head 28 and diaphragm 24.

The extension 21 of member 28 is connectedby any suitable connection to the mechanism to be operated, such as a brake or a clutch. In Fig. 1 this extension on unit 28 is connected by a link 5| with rod ill for operating the service brake I88,

and the extension 21 of unit 2| is connected to an operating lever 52 (Fig. 5) for releasing the clutch l6. Lever 52 may be pivoted to the frame or clutch housing at 53 and operate through the sleeve 54 on the clutch shaft. The units 28 and 2| are mounted by any suitable support, but are preferably pivoted by suitable trunnions as shown at 55 (Fig. 5) on the casing of the unit and mounted in a suitable bracket 55 secured to the frame or other suitable part of the vehicle. This pivotal mounting for the unit permits it to rock, if necessary, when it is operated.

In the illustrated embodiment, unit 2| operates from the suction of the motor or any suitable source when a control switch, indicated diagrammatically at 51 (Fig. 7) is closed. Electric current from any suitable source to which conductor 41 is connected energizes solenoid 43 and shifts the rod 4| carrying valves 35 and 38 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, against action of a spring 58 surrounding rod 4|. This closes the passage 35 and opens passage 31, permitting the suction to withdraw air from space 38 within the diaphragm 24 and reducing the pressure therein. This causes atmospheric pressure on the head or piston 28 to force the same to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, shifting the extension 21 and operating whatever mechanism to which this extension is connected. When switch 51 is again opened, solenoid 43 is deenergized permitting the spring 58 to shift valves 36 and 38 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, thus closing passage 81 and opening passage 35. This permits atmospheric pressure to enter the space 30, thus tending to equalize pressures on opposite sides of piston 26 and diaphragm 24 and permitting the former, with extension 21, to move back to its original position, either under the spring action of the diaphragm or a suitable spring on the mechanism operated therebyhas, for example, the usual clutch spring, not shown.

Secured to the extension 28 of the unit illustrated in Fig. 7 is a rod 2811 which is exteriorly splined to engage corresponding grooves formed thus acts as a guide for the rod 21, and passage 28b, 28c acts as a bleed, for air trapped in chamber 21a, thus equalizing the pressures in the latter chamber and space.

The controls for the two units 28 and 2| for operating the brake and clutch respectively are mounted on the gearshift lever l5. This lever is mounted on a suitable housing 58 in the usual manner to permit the required movements for shifting the 'gears. It has the usual extension 88 connected to the gearshift mechanism. This lever has a longitudinal passage 6| for electrical conductors for the units. The lever is provided at its upper end with a grip 82 in the shape of a ball or knob of insulating material. Mounted in this grip and projecting from the upper end thereof is an insulating button 83 which is mounted for limited sliding movement in the grip and, as shown, is movable longitudinally of the axis of the lever.. A spring 84 reacting against this button and a permanently mounted disc 55 tends to force this button upwardly, which movement is limited by a shoulder 88. The-button carries a metal contact 81 which when in its depressed condition engages and bridges the two contacts 88 and 88. These contacts are carried on suitable posts 18 and 1| respectively mounted in the grip and to which are connected the lead wires 12 and 13 respectively. One of these lead wires, as the lead wire 12, is connected to a suitable source of current, such as the battery or generator of the vehicle, while the other conductor 13 leads to the brake operating unit 28. Therefore, the conductor 18 corresponds to the conductor 41 in Fig. "I, and the switch 61, 68, 88 corresponds to the switch 51 of Fig. 7. It will therefore be obvious that when the button 53 is depressed the circuit to the brake unit 28 will be closed, causing this unit to function to apply the brakes.

Also mounted on the grip 62 is a control switch for the unit 2| for releasing the clutch. This switch is mounted in the side of the grip so that it may be closed by pressing inwardly on the sides thereof. In the form shown, it comprises a resilient contractible ring 14 mounted in a suitable groove 15 in the grip, this ring being split as shown at 16. Said ring is connected bymeans of insulating elements" with switch levers 18 and 18. The lever 18 is pivoted on the stud 18, while the lever 18 is pivoted on a suitable stud 88 from which a conductor 8| leads through the lever passage 5| to the unit 2|. The two levers 18 and 18 are movable toward each other at their free ends where they carry switch contacts 82, the latter being normally held out of engagement with each other by springs 83. Therefore, the conductor 8| corresponds to conductor 41 of Fig. 7, while the switch 82 corresponds to the control switch 51 in Fig. 1. It will therefore be apparentthat when the ring 14 is compressed, the switch 82 is closed, closing the circuit to the unit 2| which will release the clutch. When the spring 14 is released, switch 82 is opened, permitting the clutch to engage. The grip or knob 62 is mounted on the free end of the gearshift lever i5 by any suitable means, such as screws 83, passing through the cupped flange 84 threaded or otherwise secured to the lever.

The connections from the conductors 12, 13 and 8| are preferably made as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. For this purpose, an insulating block 85 is mounted on the extension 88 of the lever, and the conductors 12, 13 and 8| are connected to binding posts 85, 81 and 88, respectively, mounted on this block. Flexible coil conductors 88, 98 and 8| lead from these binding posts, respectively, to suitable sockets 82, 83 and 84 mounted on the support 58 from which they are connected by suitable conductors in armored flexible conduits if desired, for supplementing the action of the to the various units and the battery or other source of current. The flexible conduit to the unit 20 is shown at 95 and is connected tothe socket 93 by a suitable detachable connection. The conduit 96 leads to the unit 2| and is connected by a suitable detachable connection to the socket 94, while the conduit 91 is connected by a suitable detachable connection to the socket 92 and is connected to the battery or other suitable source of current, not shown.

Although the service brake is applied and the clutch is released by the power units, the usual pedal operating means for applying the brake and releasing the clutch are shown at I9 and 98 respectively, and these two pedals operate in the usual manner for applying the service brake and releasing the clutch. Thus, if either of the units 20 or 2| fails, the brake may be applied or the clutch released in the manner now generally employed, or both of these pedals may be used,

units 26 and 2|. If the operator wishes to control the brake and clutch by the feet, as is now the general practice, he may do so independently of the power units 26 and 2| or he may use the brake pedal to assist the power unit 29 and thus increase the braking effect.

However, in normal operation, when the operator wishes to apply the brake, he may merely rest his hand on top of the grip 62 to thus depress the button 63 and render the power unit 20 effective to apply the service brake. He may then press inwardly on the ring 14 to render power unit 2I effective to release the clutch after which he may, by manipulating the lever IS in the usual manner, shift the gears, if desired, or if preferred, he may release the clutch without applying the brake and then shift the gears in the usual manner. It will therefore be obvious that this mechanism places the entire control of the car in one hand of the operator, but he may, if desired,

apply the brakes or release the clutch with the foot pedals in the usual manner. As it is the natural action of the hand to grip the sides of the knob 62 in shifting gears, the natural and practically unconscious action will be, with this device, to first release the clutch and then shift the gears. The natural action is always to release the clutch before shifting the gears, and this device, therefore, tends to reduce and practically eliminate the liability of grinding the gears when shifting. It will also be obvious that practically no effort is required on the part of the operator in applying the brakes, and as the brake unit 20 may be set by suitably designing the various air inlets to operate uniformly or by adjusting the valves II9, I2I and I22, the brakes will never set with a too sudden action but are always applied uniformly, thus reducing sudden strains on the vehicle and tending toward more comfortable operation with less fatigue to the occupants. The gradual application of the brakes may be obtained by adjustment of valve H9 toward closed position to insure that the braking force will not be applied too rapidly when valve 38 is opened. Valves I2I and I22 are adjusted toward full opened position to insure quick release of the brakes when solenoid 43 isdeenergized.

The unit 2| also gives uniform engagement of the clutch, the speed of engagement being controlled and set by the valves l2l and I22, preventing too sudden engagement, eliminating sudden jerks incident to too rapid engagement of the clutch, and reducing strains on the car and 'trolled by the adjustment of valve H9. solenoid 43 is deenergized. the suction connection fatigue to the occupants. In other words, the

piston member 26 and the controlled clutch surfaces toward engaged position, and a retarded movement at and for a brief time subsequent to the time the friction surfaces of the clutch engage. To obtain this operation, valve I22 is adjusted toward closed position, while valve I2I is adjusted toward open position. When suction is introduced into the right-hand end of the casing, 1. e. into chamber 30, rod 21 and member 26 will be moved to the right to disengage the clutch surfaces against tension of the clutch spring (not shown), the speed of this movement being con- When is interrupted and air ,iiows into the right-hand end of casing 22, 23 from chamber 3| and from atmosphere past valve I2I. The clutch surfaces are thereupon rapidly moved toward engaged position by means of the usual clutch spring. This rapid movement tends to decrease the air pressureacting on the right-hand face of member 26 because of the restricted air inlet l2l.v The port for valve I22 has been suiiiciently restricted to insure that the rapid movement of member 26 to the left will compress the air in the left-hand endv of the casing so that member 26 will have its speed of movement reduced at substantially the instant the clutch surfaces engage. The pull of the clutch spring is at this instant rendered substantially ineffective due to the resistance offered by the engagement of the clutch surfaces plus the compression resistance in the left-hand end of casing 22, 23 and to a certain extent by the reduced pressure in the other end of said casing created by the aforementioned initial rapid movement of member 26 to the left. As air is expelled past valve I22, the compression is destroyed and the clutch surfaces are slowly and completely engaged under the action of the clutch spring. If it is desired to operate the clutch and brake manually and without the use of the power unit, valve H9 may be completely closed.

In Figs. 8 to 10, I have shown in detail a somewhat different type of power means which may be employed to operate the clutch or brakes in the same manner as the unit shown in Fig. '7. This unit functions in somewhat the same manner as the unit shown in Fig. 7 except that the movable powerelement .is not provided with a diaphragm and it is connected to the brake or clutch in a somewhat different manner. ,Itmay be connected somewhat more readilydirectly to the clutch or brake pedal, thus adapting it to be applied somewhat more readily to existing incorresponding to the solenoid 43 of the unit of Fig. 7, and this solenoid surrounds a rod I30 carrying at one end a valve I3I controlling a passage I32, and at its other end carrying a valve I33 controlling a passage I34. The passage I32 forms a communication between the chamber I21 and the space I35 outside the cylinder, which communication with this space is shown at I36. The entire internal structure comprising the cylinder I24 in the head I26 with associated ele ments is enclosed within an outer casing I31 which thus forms the chamber I35. The rod I30 is surrounded by a spring I38 which tends to move the rod I30 and the valves carried thereby upwardly to close the valve I33. The rod I30 and the head I39 forms the armature for the solenoid I29 and this solenoid when energized tends to shift the rod I30 against the action of the spring I38. One end of the solenoid is grounded as shown at I40, and the other end is connected by a contact I4I to a lead I42 leading to any suitable control switch, such as any switch corresponding to the switch 51 of Fig. 7. That is, the lead I42 corresponds to either of the leads 95 or 96 of Fig. 1.

The passage I34 leads to the .chamber I21 and is connected by a flexible conduit I43 to any suitable source of suction, such as the intake manifold 40 of the motor I3. This connection I43, therefore, corresponds to the connection 39 of the unit shown in Fig. 7. The effective area of the passage I34 may be adjusted and determined by an adjustable valve I44 which may besecured in adjusted position by a lock nut I45.

A coil spring I46 is mounted between the upper side of the piston I25 and the head I 26 so that it tends to force the piston downwardly, The spring is preferably conical so that it may collapse into a shorter space, and its use insures that the piston will be moved to the end of the cylinder whereby the usual clutch lever spring is effective to move said lever to such a position as to prevent wear in the clutch trunnion bearing. The effective area of passage I32-I35 may be determined by an adjustable valve 1.

The lower end of the cylinder I24 is closed by a head I48 and this head also closes the lower end of the casing I31. The space in the cylinder below the piston I25 communicates with the space I35 outside the cylinder through one or more openings I49 in the wall of the cylinder. The space in the cylinder below the piston also communicates with the outer atmosphere through a passage I50 the effective area of which may be adjusted and determined by an adjustable valve II which is secured in adjusted position by a lock nut I52. In the construction shown, the passage I50 leads to an annular chamber I53 in the head I48 which is closed by a screen I54 and a fibre packing I55 which is mounted between this screen and the casing I31, the casing being provided with suitable openings I55 leading to this fibre packing or screen. The fibre is sufliciently loose to permit the flow of air therethrough but forms a screen or strainer to prevent entrance of dust and dirt to the mechanism in the casing.

The piston I25 is connected to a piston rod I51 mounted for sliding movement in a bearing sleeve I58 carried by the head I48, and this head is also extended to provide an enclosed hearing I 59 for pulley I50. The bearing casing I58 has an opening at one side thereof as shown at ISI for passage of a flexible connection, such as a wire cable I62, which passes over the pulley I60 and is connected to the piston rod I51. At its other end this cable is connected through a suitable link I83 with the clutch pedal 98, or if desired, it may be connected to the brake pedal I9 in the same manner. There may be an adjustable connection I64 in the cable to adjust it to the proper length and take up slack. The extension of the head I48 also includes a side bracket I85 providing means by. which the unit may be mounted on the side member I2 of the car frame by any suitable means, such as the bolts I65.

This unit operates in substantially the same manner as the unit of Fig. 7. That is, closing -the switch 51 corresponding to either the switch side of the piston. This action, of course, will draw down the pedal to which the cable I 62 is connected either releasing the clutch or applying the brake depending onto which element the unit is connected. When the switch 51 is opened the valves I3I, I33 are forced upwardly under action of the spring I38, thus closing the passage I 34 to the suction and opening the passage I32 to the atmosphere. This provides pressure on both sides of the piston permitting the spring I43 to force the piston downwardly and permit the clutch to engage or to release the brake. The speed of operation of the piston under the action of the suction may be controlled by adjusting the valve I44. It, therefore, determines the rate at which the pressure is reduced above the piston. The

speed of movement of the piston may also be controlled or determined by adjusting the valve I5I. The valves I5I and I", by controlling entrance of atmospheric air, also determine the speed at which the clutch may be engaged or the brake released.

With this type of unit it is somewhat easier to secure a greater stroke than with the diaphragm unit of Fig. 7. It can, therefore, be attached to the brake or clutch lever aconsiderable distance from the pivot for this lever as indicated in Fig. 8, and it will give the necessary movement for properly operating the lever. This gives greater leverage so that a smaller unit of less power may be used. The unit can be attached to cars already assembled and in service if desired. The flexible cable I82 permits operation of the pedal by the foot of the operator independently of the unit.

Although only two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto but that various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Reference will be had primarily to the appended claims for a deflnition of the limits of the invention.

.What is claimed is:

1. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch, power means for operating said clutch comprising a double-ended pressure differential operated motor, the power element of which ininto two compartments, and separate, independent valve means for controlling the gaseous pressure within each of said compartments for controlling the clutch disengaging operation of said motor and for varying the resistance of said motor to the engaging movement of the clutch.

2. In a vacuum operated power device for a motor vehicle clutch, a hollow container, movable means within said container dividing the same into two chambers, means for connecting said movable means to the clutch, means connecting one of said chambers to a source of subatmospheric pressure to move said movable means for disengaging the clutch, valve means for controlling said connection, an adjustable valve controlling the admission of atmosphere to said last named chamber, and an adjustable valve connecting the other of said chambers to atmosphere for controlling the flow of air into and out of the same whereby the engagement of the clutch is retarded substantially at the point of initial engagement of the clutch surfaces.

3. In a clutch control device for motor vehicles, a suction operated power device connected to the clutch and capable of releasing the same, said device comprising a hollow container, means in said container movable relatively thereto and dividing the same into two compartments, means for connecting one of said compartments to a source of vacuum for disengaging the clutch, means connecting said compartments to atmosphere, and valve means for controlling said connecting means for rendering said device operable to disengage the clutch and for varying the resistance of said device to the engaging movement of the clutch.

4. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch, power means for operating the clutch comprising a pressure difierential operated motor, the latter including a cylinder member and a reciprocable piston member within the cylinder and operably connected to the clutch, solenoid operated valve means housed-within one end of the cylinder and operable to, in part, control the clutch disengaging and engaging operations of the motor, and other valve means housed within the other end of the cylinder for, in part, controlling said operations of the motor.

clutch, said last named member being adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure in said motor for disengaging said clutch, solenoid operated valve means for controlling connections between one end of said container, a source of vacuum and atmosphere and operable to, in part, control the clutch disengaging and engaging operations of the motor, and other valve means controlling communication between the other end of said container and atmosphere for, in part, controlling said operations of the motor to vary the resistance of the latter to the engaging movement of the clutch.

7. In a vacuum power device for engaging and disengaging a motor vehicle clutch, a casing, reciprocable means in said casing, means for operatively connecting the reciprocable means to the clutch, a connection between said casing and the intake manifold of the vehicle motor, a valve for controlling said connection, a second valve for adjusting said connection, a valve for controlling the admission of air into one part of the casing, and an adjustable valvefor varying the flow of air to another part of the casing whereby the engagement of the clutch is retarded substantially at the point of initial engagement of the clutch surfaces.

8. In a vacuum operated power device for a motor vehicle clutch, a vacuum casing having a suction chamber and a compression chamber, reciprocable means within the casing, means for operatively connecting the reciprocable means to the clutch, a connection between the casing and the intake manifold of the engine, and valve means for controlling the gaseous pressure within the two chambers of the casing including a valve for controlling the connection to the intake manifold, a valve for controlling the admission of air into the suction chamber of the casing, and an adjustable valve varying the admission of air into the compression chamber of the casing whereby the engagement of the clutch is retarded substantially at the point of initial engagement of the clutch surfaces.

CHARLES A. BREWER. 

